Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency and banned outdoor burning across all 39 counties as fires in Spokane destroyed at least 700 structures and drove tens of thousands from their homes, with 14 people still unaccounted for. The fires tearing through eastern Washington have burned more than 8,000 acres near Spokane with […] The post Spokane wildfires level 700 structures and force 65,000 to evacuate as governor issues statewide burn ban appeared first on American Almanac .
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency and banned outdoor burning across all 39 counties as fires in Spokane destroyed at least 700 structures and drove tens of thousands from their homes, with 14 people still unaccounted for. The fires tearing through eastern Washington have burned more than 8,000 acres near Spokane with zero containment, according to Newsmax , leveling homes, businesses, and entire neighborhoods while 900 crews and National Guard soldiers fight to hold the line. Officials said Monday that the destruction toll, already at 700 structures, many of them homes, is expected to climb as satellite imaging of 1,100 additional areas gets underway to assess commercial and residential damage. The…Open
Wildfires in Washington and Oregon have forced evacuations, caused power outages and burned hundreds of thousands of acres as firefighters battle dozens of massive fires across the Pacific Northwest. Why it matters: The blazes are among 99 active large fires burning across the U.S. as this year's wildfire season exceeds the 10-year average for both the number of fires and acres burned, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. - So far this year, 45,835 fires have burned more than 5.2 million acres across the U.S., the NIFC says . State of play: Washington has 17 active large fires. In the Spokane area, three major blazes — known collectively as the Spokane Complex Fire — have forced some 60,000 people to evacuate, knocked…
Extreme heat , drought and dangerous fire weather are raising wildfire risks across the U.S. West heading into the July 4 weekend. Why it matters: Millions of Americans celebrating Independence Day face fireworks restrictions as officials warn that a single spark could ignite fast-moving wildfires in areas already strained by extreme heat and drought. - Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect in parts of Utah and Colorado due to massive blazes in those states. Driving the news: "Dangerous, record-breaking heat " continues across the central and eastern U.S., with the most intense heat shifting east through Independence Day weekend, the National Weather Service warns . - Heat indexes of up to 115°F are possible, and temperatures …
Data: U.S. Drought Monitor ; Map: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals Firework associations expect a massive boom in backyard fireworks this July 4, a surge that collides with dry conditions and a blistering heatwave that could drastically increase the risk of fires. Why it matters: Climate change is increasing the likelihood and severity of wildfires, and large chunks of the U.S. are under burn bans because of severe drought. What they're saying: "It only takes one small spark landing in dry vegetation under the right conditions to start a fast-moving wildfire," April Newman, a public information officer at Cal Fire, tells Axios. - Embers can smolder for over a minute, Newman says, "increasing the potential for ignition even after the…